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Abstract

Purpose: The number of patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been relatively increasing compared with the number of HF patients with reduced EF (HFrEF), and the prognosis of such patients still remains poor. However, few studies report on the risk factors for readmission for HFpEF. Hence, our goal was to identify risk factors for readmission of patients with HF, particularly of those with preserved EF (pEF).

Methods: In total, 310 patients who were hospitalized for the first time with HF were enrolled in this study, 142 of whom were classified as pEF. The study endpoint was readmission for HF after discharge. Data regarding medical history, vital signs, electrocardiogram, chest X-rays, blood tests, and echocardiograms were collected and compared between patients with pEF and those with reduced EF (rEF). The chi-square test, Student’s t-test, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare variables between the patients, as appropriate. Univariate analysis was performed on all items, and those with statistical significance were selected. Multivariate analysis was performed on variables with a value of P ≤ 0.05 using the stepwise multiple regression approach (step-up method).